Andrew Benintendi hit a Grand slam in the second inning and the go ahead sacrifice fly in the ninth inning to lift the Boston Red Sox to a 6-5 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night at Tropicana Field.
Tonight was the first grand slam of Andrew Benintendi’s career! Cheers to many more to come!!! 🍻
— Mollie Katie (@molliekatie) April 21, 2019
The Red Sox saw a 5-0 lead disappear as the Rays set a team record by hitting four triples in a game.
The Rays’ 4 triples by sprint speed
Kevin Kiermaier: 29.6 ft/sec
Brandon Lowe: 29.2 ft/sec
Austin Meadows: 28.6 ft/sec
[MLB avg. sprint speed: 27 ft/sec]
Ji-Man Choi: 26.1 ft/sec— David Adler (@_dadler) April 21, 2019
With the score tied at five in the ninth inning, Bradley JR started things with a single. With one out, Michael Chavis came up to hit for Sandy Leon. It was the first career Major League at bat for Chavis. He ripped a double to center fielder off Rays hard throwing lefty Jose Alvarado.
And all smiles afterwards for #RedSox Michael Chavis on his first MLB hit—delivering in a key spot to propel the Sox to a victory in Tampa Bay.
Footage courtesy of @NESN via @MLBTV pic.twitter.com/FVkitb4sPG— Ben Wilson (@TBDubbs11) April 21, 2019
Benintendi sent Bradley JR home with the go ahead run. With a one run lead, and the tying and winning run on base for the Rays, Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez picked off Tommy Pham at first base to end the game.
#RedSox catcher Christian Vázquez on throwing out Pham to end the game: “I saw he had a big lead and we have a chance there. Why not? If Adames gets ahead, it’s a tie game. (The play call) was all me. I gave the sign to Pearce and we got him.” pic.twitter.com/V7e97GhNrS
— Josh Tolentino (@JCTSports) April 21, 2019
Rick Porcello allowed two runs in 5.2 innings. Matt Barnes (2-0) picked up the win, he struck out the side after allowing a game tying homer in the eighth inning. Marcus Walden was very effective out of the bullpen. Brasier picked up his fifth save. it is the first series win for the Red Sox this season and the first two game winning streak. The final game of the three game series will be Sunday afternoon at 2:10 with a pitching matchup of David Price and Tyler Glasnow.
Andrew Benintendi (shown here in a game earlier this season) hit his first career grand slam on Saturday night. Photo courtesy of Delaney Gardner
